Discover how embracing your multifaceted self—as a leader, mother, entrepreneur, and creative—can unlock authentic success. Stop choosing one path and start building a life that honors all of who you are.
Influential Woman · Real Estate, Property Management, Author, Media
Maria Jordan
Director of Screening & Applications, Cortland
Atlanta, GA 30328
6Years experience
1Article published
1Award received
Her Story
About Maria
Maria Jordan is a corporate executive, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and media personality whose work is centered on empowering others to find their voice and lead with confidence.
Inspired by motherhood, Maria created The Secret Keeper children’s book series to help children build confidence, trust their intuition, and encourage meaningful conversations between parents and their children. Her passion for empowerment also led her to found EmpowHER Circle, a community that supports women through leadership, connection, and personal growth.
Although she studied music at Drexel University, Maria discovered a passion for real estate and property management, where she has built a nearly 20-year career. Today, she serves as Director of Screening & Applications at Cortland, leading a team of more than 70 professionals responsible for processing over 40,000 rental applications annually across more than 220 communities nationwide.
Whether through corporate leadership, media, writing, or community building, Maria is committed to creating opportunities that inspire confidence, encourage growth, and make a lasting impact.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maria
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to consistency, resilience, and a genuine passion for serving others. I’ve never been afraid to start over, learn something new, or step outside my comfort zone. I also believe that relationships matter. Treating people with respect, leading with integrity, and being willing to help others has opened doors throughout my career. Most importantly, I don’t wait for opportunities—I create them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to never stop learning. Every role, challenge, and setback has something to teach you. If you stay curious, remain coachable, and continue investing in your growth, you’ll always be prepared for the next opportunity, even if you don’t see it coming.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Build relationships before you need them, ask questions, and never underestimate the value of doing the small things well. Real estate is ultimately a people business. Your reputation, work ethic, and ability to lead with empathy will take you further than any title. Focus on becoming someone others trust, and the opportunities will follow.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in real estate today is balancing technology with the human experience. Automation and AI have created incredible efficiencies, but people still want to feel heard, supported, and valued, especially when making important housing decisions. At the same time, this creates one of our greatest opportunities: using innovation to improve the resident experience while empowering our teams to focus on building meaningful relationships and delivering exceptional service.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, kindness, authenticity, and service are the values that guide every area of my life. I believe in treating people with respect, doing what’s right even when no one is watching, and creating opportunities that help others grow. Whether I’m leading a corporate team, mentoring women, or writing children’s books, I want people to leave every interaction feeling seen, encouraged, and empowered.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Maria
You Don’t Have to Choose Just One Dream
Embracing Your Full Self: Why You Don't Have to Choose Between Your Dreams
For a long time, I thought success meant picking one lane and staying in it. Climb the ladder. Don't look left or right. I built a solid corporate career in real estate, and I'm proud of that.
But at the same time, I had other dreams pulling at me: writing books, building a media platform, speaking, and creating spaces where women could come together and grow. And like a lot of us, I wrestled with the question: Do I have to choose? Can I be a leader, a mother, an entrepreneur, and still honor my creative side?
Eventually, I realized the only thing standing in my way was permission—my own. I had to give myself the freedom to be all of who I am.
What I've come to understand is that nothing we go through is wasted. Every season builds on the next. Becoming a mother pushed me to write children's books that help kids find their voices early. My time in corporate taught me how to lead with both strength and heart. Stepping into media, entrepreneurship, and community work sharpened my ability to connect with people in a genuine way. None of these paths canceled one another out—they all came together to shape me into the woman I am today.
If there's one thing I want every woman to take away, it's this: Stop shrinking yourself to fit into one box. You are allowed to be layered. You don't have to choose just one title or one version of success. Give yourself room to grow, to pivot, and to explore what's calling you. Your passions don't compete; they can coexist. And when you fully embrace every part of who you are, you're not just building a career—you're building a life that truly feels like your own.
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